1995_12 Insight December 1995

              DECEMBER 6,1995
Sports
Walk-ons, from page 6
something.
"It was the greatest day of my life
when 1 signed for the scholarship." he
said. "My parents wouldn't have to
worry anymore."
Wolfgramm became an inspiration
for Roberts, who decided to try out
for the nationally-ranked baseball .
team after seeing Wolfgramm's success.
"I went to the field and saw 80-some
guys trying oulj" said Roberts, who
is 5-fcct, 8-inchcs and 180 pounds. He
worked hard through three cuts in the
first month and made it to the 35-
member team roster.
"My first game 1 pinch hit against
Wyoming," Roberts said. "I grounded
out to first, bul I advanced the run-
Roberts grins as hc remembers his
earlier years on the team. Hc takes out
his La Russa '95 Sega video game and
begins to play a game. No suprise.
it's his favorite.
His firsl year was difficult. "The
competition svas tough, especially
here at this top-notch program." he
said. "Everyone here was a standout,
so 1 had to make myself even better.'"
In Roberts' sophomore year, he
prosed his ability and earned a starting position as a middle infieldcr in
the Las Vegas tournament. From ihen
on the spot was his.
Keys to success
"You have to prove yourself even,
day; we just hung in there." Carson
That's svhat led him to be the last
member of the first Fresno State bas-
keiball learn coached by Jerry
Tarkanian.
"It was lough because of lhe conditioning. There were 20 lo 25 people
out there and they kept dropping." he
said. "Tark wasn't sure if he was going lo keep the walk-ons. After the
ssorkouts he could tell I worked hard
and hc kepi me."
Each day is a challenge lt>r ihe Ihree
athletes.
"Before T.C. leases for his games,
sse hase this handshake we call the
Bulldog handshake." Roberts said. "I
tell him to be the hammer and noi the
nail."
These three roommates were not
always supportive of one another back
home.
"We competed against each other in
soccer, football, basketball and baseball." Wolfgramm said. "We used lo
mop each other up."
Their commitment to sports led
them to Fresno Stale. "T.C. and I
knew we would come to Fresno State
together," Roberts said.
"We had talked about walking on to
the sports program here."
Carson waited at Canada Junior
College back home to see what would
happen to his best friends.
"I didn't know where I svanied to
go to school after the JC. T.C. and
Noel told me I might have a chance
on the basketball team, they had heard
Tark might be coming." Carson said.
"1 loved playing basketball and I
wasn't ready to quit."
Inspiring stories
All three believe they've given hope
to aspiring walk-on athletes.
Wolfgramm received the scholar-athlete award his firsl year of football.
Wolfgramm's coach said he made a
great impression on the team. "He's
been a great player. He has thc heart
of a lion," Sweeney said. "He had a
lot of injuries, yet he kept on playing."
The all-WAC Player of lhe Week
award was given to Roberts twice in
1994, his second season at Fresno
State.
"Noel was largely responsible for
the wins that year." said Fresno State's
baseball coach Bob Bennett. "H*e had
to work his way into the lineup and
hc turned oul to be a good player."
Carson is waiting to play his first
game for the basketball team, but he
knows his time will come just like
Wolfgramm's and Roberts'. .
He's just glad to be with his two
best friends.
Men's tennis ranked in top 15
bv Hudriun Shaw
Stall Win,,
Room 104 of the North Gym is
fficc with a sssivcl chair and .1
. A file cabinet is in thc corner
ii couch beside ii
mcihing is different about the
h: Il used lo be lhe back scat ol
bells spill troiii ilk-
cushion.   '
fifth-year Bulldog tennis coach
Peter Smith sits in the^wivel chair
and listens to his phiine messages.
He has more than io The last one
cancels an appointment
"1 wasn't going anyway." he said.
smiling. His cheerfulness-remains
when he turns his attention lu this
year's men's tennis team
"Our firsi goal is d> ssm ihe Western Athletic Conference.*' Smith
said. "I feel sse hase cur str..uccst
Ranking.
'lis sers exciting tor us because
n's the highest ranking Fresno Stale
has ever achieved." Snuili v.n.l
Smith feels lhe Bulldog are .am
alls belter than 15th in Ihe nation but
he \s44uli! like |4> earn thai recognition on lhe court rather than through
Ihc polls.
Thai ranking in mc ssas perfect."
Smith s.ml •'It's perfect because the
mis in t
sponsorships. Fi
big deal for us."
But Fredrik Bergh s.M>n"t Ix- thirtl?
thc-financial aspects
Hi! ne>
II,
tl at
likely turning pro after this
'Smith said. Thc 6-foot.'4-inch
hill KarKkoga. Sweden, has
lean
r.IIss
il ihi< )
it's just not in the cards lor us."
The foundation 4>i Smith's confidence lies in thc talent of his tup t\v«»
players and the 4>s eratl depth t>l this
year's team.
"This sear, our lop l\s*> players are
top 10 in ihc country. There's not a
school in the country lhat is better
ihan us al one and isso." Smith said.
The No. I and No. 2 plas ers for
Smith and lhe Bulldogs are Fredrik
Bergh and Fredrik Giers. respectively.
but plans to he among lhe lop 1
"I feel we have our
strongest team ever.
If we can't win this   *
year, it's just not in
the cards for us."
—Peter Smith,
men's tennis coach
Besides being the top-ranked,
singles player on the team. Berth
also teams ssnh P.J. Dornnre in
doubles. Bs playing doubles, Bergh
has managed to improve his net
game and has incorporated it into his
I enjoy doubles more because
you're not al4.ne4.iit there." Bergh
sard  "But for in) future, (singles is|
where thc money is"
Bergh s tuture is bright. Smith
"He's a pretty special pT.r.cr." he
said "I'm scry happs to hase hjd
him l«t tsso sears. He leases here
with ms blessing. He's done a greal
job."
Alter Bergh. Fredrik Giers w.ill
must likely be thc nest Bu!ld4>g to
make a bid h>r the pr4>tcssi4inal
lour The 6-fooi Giers is also a
nali . 1 Sweden, originally, of ,
Bastad. Giers is an exclusive
baselincr who counts on his speed
and quickness 4>n the court and his
big forehand.
"I ssant i4. plas this year and next
sear and depending ..n h<>\s well I
do. I'll see it I want to go pro." Giers
On the 1
I ' ijet
and Bergh ai
Insight photo by Oavid Johnson
With talented players like Jake Bragonier, who won the Bulldog
Tennis Classic, the expectations of the team are high.
Intercollegiate Tc
placed the Bulldi
the Roles Colic-.
•ncei.lhis]
I he lanky
.tr.-kes fro
.harp fore
Ktckhands
ight-hander!
life hittinj
1 the bascli
"1 think sse in lo challenge eacl
..Ihcr to plas better." Giers said
""Wh4> plays one or two, ii doesn"
really matter. Any thing f< w the team
I'm lhe happiest man (>n harth sshci
he does ssell and s ice sers.i "
These dass. it's coach Smith whi
seems to be the happiest man 01
Earth. His piascrs are
ull
ad
ich has
Bulldog Foundation forms CLAST committee
♦ Group hopes to
shorten gap between
athletes, students ~~"~
by Brian R. Fisher
Stiff Writer
A ness organization at Califu
State 1 ins ersity. Fresno has been
ated to bridge lhc miscommumc.
gap between the athletic program
the students, faculty and staff.
The Fresno State Bulldog Fi
lion has formed lhc Campus Li I
Sports Traditions committee.
The goal of lhe ness organ 1/at
lo raise the on-canipus sisihil
lhe athletic program and thc DO
impact it makes to the lotal 111
sily e
"Il ssas a sers open forum." Pok said.
•'Both sides dialogued back and forth
and sse ssere able lo ascertain the pmb-
lems. including being misinformed.
failure lo find out sshat is really going
on csent-ssisc in the athletic program
and ticket prices
There       ssere
The foi
of what
CLAST initially began in Mas 1994.
The Bulldog Foundation Trustees
held a svorkshop to produce ideas
aboul generating ness revenues and
increasing attendance ai Fresno State
athletic events.
At that time, the organization svas
called the Nesv Groups Committee.
chaired by Angie Dtl.iddo. a Bulldog
Foundation trustee.
After several meeungs and much deliberation, lhe committee decided to focus
on Fresno Stale's studenl population,
"At lhat time lhe Ness Gnnips Committee decided, there's no reason to look ans
fij4rlher.'''saidShirieyP>.k.Bulkkn;F,nm-
dation administrative assistant.
"We had found our focus. m>ss h
was time to make the relationship between the isso sides belter."
DiLiddo arranged meetings ssith
Associated Studenls and representatives of major campus groups to identify and remedy problems lhat students had with the athletic program.
inprofil organization.
:s Tit facilitators."
: said lhat sse would help by galh-
differcnl people from different
4'I the campus together and help
In June 1995, thc committee decided
a broader approach ss as needed ft * the
whole student/athletic program issue
Assistant Athletic Director Sett
Johnson ssas asked l4> be the
commiiees chairman. The committee
ssas renamed CLAST.    '
Decision makers representing a ss jde
CTOSS section ol campus services and
leadership ssere ins ited to make up thc
ness est committee.
CLAST members met for the first
time this pasi August to formulate their
mission and purpose.
The committee's purpose this scar
was to involve itself in projects enabling a working relationship between
the isso sides.
Among those projects ssere a Back-
to-School Promotion thai featured
Ness Student Orientation and Welcome Week — including a barbecue,
pool party and ice cream social.
Student bus trips ssere arranged by
the CLAST committee for the Caf-
Berkeley and UCLA football games.
They ss ill also be set up for men's bas
ketball games at Selland Arena this
Future endears 4 >p. ssill include a sports
media center at the soMWo-be-conv
pleled food court and trophy displas
cases al llie resident lis ing atrium.
"We've seen positive residua] effects
Irom lhc things lhai sse has c
oui»hwin so faT." Johnson*
B> the Fall of 1996. thee
tee hopes t4> incorporate tin
aid
denis. facult) and staff.
• Ticket packages sshich benefit students, faculty, staff and their families.
• The development of a payroll deduction system for faculty and staff
t4. purchase athletic season tickets.
• Season ticket purchases through
the student registration process as
ssell as the concept 4>i an athletic
"Ihateiothms
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